STORY: In the small town of Derry, Maine, a group of kids dubbed 'The Losers' Club' encounters a shape-shifting demonic entity, known to return every 27 years to prey on fear.

REVIEW: Stephen King is one of the most prolific authors in existence today, having written best-selling novels in the horror, supernatural fiction, and fantasy genres. Many of his books have been adapted into films and TV series with varying degrees of success. His works have been notoriously difficult to translate to the screen.

This was evident with the previous adaptation of 'It' as a television mini-series in 1990, which was able to capture certain aspects of the novel but failed to be as disturbing. 27 years later, (oddly enough, a period of time significant to the plot of the story itself) Hollywood has decided to revisit this horror classic.

What this version does extremely well is that it captures the essence of youth. Considering that the story is based entirely on them - each of the young actors tasked with heavy dramatic, and even comedic acting are skilled enough. They portray kids on the verge of puberty, with an extremely relatable camaraderie and it really wouldn't be as effective if there wasn't the palpable chemistry between the actors.

To top that, they all are endearing in their own unique ways, which makes it all the more gut-wrenching when they go up against the monster. A horror film is only as good as the antagonist. Let's just say that it wouldn't be much of a surprise if Pennywise invokes Coulrophobia - the fear of clowns - in a whole new generation.

This balance could not be maintained without a strong screenplay, paired with some taut direction courtesy of Andy Muschietti. Both these components have been put together with a great understanding of the emotional beats behind the source material. Some interesting camerawork and slick editing make this an even potent mix.

If there's one minor misstep, it's in the background score that tends to get slightly overpowering at times. It makes some of the jump scares slightly predictable to experienced horror fans; although there are others that still manage to catch you by surprise, so it's pardonable.

What works in the film's favour is that it acts not only as a strong entry by itself but also as a build-up to the inevitable and now essential sequel. Rest assured - King's nightmare is alive, freaky and endearing at the same time. If you're a horror fan, don't miss 'It'!